Toy submarine



Sgpt. 15, 1942. 7 w EKLOF 2,295,835

TOY SUBMARINE Filed Jan. 1 1, 1940 I ":4 I W. .....m.

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m as m as 19 7 *5 56 441 L6 75 i 17 w W I '76 Zhwe/wto'n 9 6 A m M 51 M17 w Erlrqg, V). Elglof 4 64' 55 619 '7: I 67 33; L 9 I W Patented Sept.15, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY SUBMARINE Erling Wallace Eklof,Minneapolis, Minn.

Application January 11, 1940, Serial No. 313,417

(Cl. 4fi94) 7 Claims.

My invention relates to toy submarines and has for an object to providea submarine simulating in performance and appearance an actualsubmarine.

An object of the invention resides in providing a submarine which willbe stable and which will float at the desired depth.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a submarine inwhich the center of gravity may be readily shifted to procure stabilityof the submarine.

An object of the invention resides in constructing the submarine with anupper part and a lower part detachably connnected together and inproviding a compartment within the lower part for the reception of thedriving mechanism of the submarine.

Another object of the invention resides in constructing the upper partas a float by means of which buoyancy of the submarine is procured andin constructing the lower part as a metal shell detachably connected tothe float and receiving water when the submarine is in use.

A feature of the invention resides in constructing the shell from sheetmetal bent to provide a bottom and two sides connected therewith andadapted to engage the float and hold the parts in assembled position.

Another object of the invention resides in providing submerging fins onthe shell disposed at the upper edges of the same and bent outwardlytherefrom. v

A feature of the invention resides in disposing the operating mechanismof the invention within the interior of the shell and below the float.

An object of the invention resides in rotatably mounting in the shell apropeller shaft and in providing an elastic band extending between thepropeller shaft and a fastening secured to the float.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a groove inthe underside of the float and a weight movable along said groove andserving as ballast for shifting the center of gravity of the submarineto stabilize the same in the water.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a torpedo expellingdevice operated by the elastic band.

An object of the invention resides in constructing the torpedo expellingdevice with a tube having a spring therein and in further providing acatch for holding the spring in retracted position.

An object of the invention resides in providing 5 a threaded memberoperated by said elastic band in further providing a nut advanced bysaid threaded member for disengaging said catch from said spring afterthe submarine has been propelled for a predetermined length of time.

A feature of the invention resides in providing a channel-shaped guideattached to the bottom of the shell and supporting the threaded memberand torpedo tube and guiding the nut for movement along the same.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterillustrated and/or described.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a toy submarine illustrating anembodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3-3of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a portion of the structure showntherein and drawn to a greater scale.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 3. My improvedtoy submarine comprises a hull which I have indicated in its entirety bythe reference numeral Ill. This hull consists of an upper portion II anda lower portion [2 detachably connected together. The portion I2 of thehull is formed with a compartment I3 within the same in which theoperating mechanism of the invention is disposed. These various partswill now be described in detail.

The upper part II of the hull I0 is constructed solid and from wood,cork or some other similar suitable buoyant material and serves as afloat for supporting the submarine in the water. The major portion ofthis float is exposed and is shaped as indicated at [4 in Fig. 5 tosimulate in appearance the upper portion of a submarine. The float II isformed with a fiat bottom l5 allowing a space in the shell for mechanismand to fill with water so as to increase the draft of the submarine to amaximum amount yet keeping the conning tower above water when notsubmerged. Attached to the uppermost portion of the float I l is animitation conning tower I6 which has issuing upwardly from it animitation periscope [1. Likewise at the rearward portion of the float isprovided an imitation hand rail l8 which may be constructed of wire bentin the desired form. These various parts are merely added to the .hullof an actual submarine.

hull of the submarine for the sake of appearance and have no function inthe operation thereof.

The lower part I2 of the hull it] of the submarine consists of a shellwhich is constructed from sheet metal bent as shown in Fig. 5 to providea. bottom l9 and sides 2| and 22 extending upwardly therefrom. Thesesides and the bottom are curved to simulate in appearance the The sides2|! and 22 project upwardly above the bottom l5 of the float so that theuppermost marginal portions 23 of said sides engage the lowermostportion of the float As will be noted in Fig. 2 both the float H and theshell i2 are pointed at their ends and the parts of the shell closelyfit the parts of the float so that the assembled structure has thegeneral appearance of a real submarine. The extreme ends 24 and 25 ofthe shell I 2 project beyond the ends 26 and 21 of. the float H andoverlie one another. These ends are secured together by means of ears 28formed on one of the sides of the shell and bent over upon the otherside of the shell.

The ends 24 of the sides 2| and 22 of the shell I2 extend considerablybeyond the end 25 of the float I! and are shaped to form a part 29 whichserves as a rudder for the submarine. This part of the shell is notched,as indicated at 3|, to form a space in which the propeller of thesubmarine is disposed.

At the forward ends 25 of the sides 2| and 22 of shell l2 are providedrearwardly extending tongues 32 which are free to flex toward and fromeach other. These tongues frictionally engage the upper surface of thefloat II and urge the same into the shell l2. To limit such movement anumber of stops 33 are provided which, in the particular form of theinvention shown, consists of nails driven into the float These nailsengage the uppermost edges 34 of the, marginal portions 23 of the sides2| and 22 and limit the movement of the float ll into the shell l2. Therearward end 26 of the float fits in between the portions of the ends 24where the same commence to diverge and is thus held in position. Theforward end 21 of the float H is engaged betweenthe tongues 32 and heldin. position thereby. In this manner the float is detachably mountedwith reference to the shell l2 and may be readily removed therefrom,when desired.

Issuing outwardly from the edges 34 of the sides 2| and 22 of shell |2are two submerging fins 35 and 35. These fins are integral with theshell and are disposed in co-planar relation extending outwardly fromthe shell in a substantially horizontal direction. The rearward ends 31of these fins are detached from the sides 2| and 22 of shell I 2 so thatthe same may be bent upwardly and downwardly. Slight bending of thesefins causes the submarine to submerge when the same is suitablypropelled and permit of rising of the submarine after the energy of themotor has been spent.

In the bottom E5 of the float H is formed a groove 36. A weight 39constructed of :metal is slidably mounted in this groove and may bepositioned at any locality along the same. The groove 58 extends fromone end of the float H to the other. The weight 39 is frictionally heldin position within the groove 38 and serves as ballast for procuringstability to the submarine.

Between the ends 24 of the sides 2| and 22 of shell I2 is provided abearing 39 shown in Fig. 3. In this bearing is journalled a propellershaft 4| which has rigidly secured to the protruding end thereof apropeller 42 disposed in the space 3| between the rudder 29 and the ends24 of the shell l2. This propeller has a hole 43 in the end thereofthrough which a suitable crank may be attached for rotating the shaft4|. The inner end of the shaft 4| has formed on it a hook 44 to which isattached one end of an elastic band 45. The other end of the saidelastic band is secured to a fastening 46 on the underside l5 of thefloat II at the forward end 21 thereof. This fastening may be in thenature of a hook which is screwed into the underside of the float II. Itwill readily be comprehended that, when the shaft 4| is rotated throughthe crank attached to the propeller 42 the elastic band 45 is twistedand turns the propeller when the crank is disengaged therefrom and thepropeller released.

Within the compartment I3 of the shell l2, and at the forward end of thesubmarine, is disposed a torpedo tube 41. The forward end 5|] of thetube 41 projects outwardly through the shell l2 at the forward portionof the submarine. The said tube has mounted in it a compressioncoilspring 46 which is seated against the end 49 of said tube and is adaptedto engage the rearward end of an imitation wood torpedo 5| receivedwithin the tube. The spring 48 is normally retracted and so held by adevice to be presently described in detail, and when released strikesthe torpedo 5| and ejects the same from the forward end 50 of the tube41, whereupon the torpedo enters the water and when its initial energyis spent floats to the surface.

Attached to the bottom I9 of the shell l2, of the submarine, is achannel-shaped guide 52 which is constructed with a web 53 and withflanges 54 and 55 extending outwardly therefrom. The web 53 lies alongthe bottom |9 of the shell l2 and is constructed with cars 56 whichextend through suitable appertures in the shell and are bent over tohold the said guide firmly attached to the shell. The forward end of theguide 52 has bent upwardly from it an end wall 51 which is provided witha suitable opening, not shown, which receives the torpedo tube 41. Theflanges 54 and 55 of the guide 52 are spaced a distance apart to receivethe said torpedo tube which extends through the end wall 51 and into thespace between the said flanges. The other end of the guide 52. has bentupwardly from it another end wall 58. In addition to the end wall 58 anear 59 is struck out of the metal of the bottom l9 of the shell [2 andis bent inwardly into the compartment [3 and lies parallel with the endwall 58. This ear is drilled to form a second bearing for the propellershaft 4| which projects slightly beyond the said ear.

Rotatably mounted in holes drilled in the ear 59 the end wall 58 and theend wall 51 is a threaded spindle 6|. At a locality between the endwalls 58 and 59 and attached to the spindle 6| is a spur gear 62. Thisspur gear meshes with another spur gear 63 attached to the propellershaft 4|. As the propeller shaft 4| rotates the threaded spindle 6| isturned. Mounted on the threaded spindle 6| is a nut 64 which is heldfrom rotation by means of two flanges 54 and 55 of the guide 52. Thisnut is movable along the said guide upon rotation of the threadedspindle 6| and is adapted to move toward and from the torpedo tube 41.

Pivoted between the two flanges 54 and 55 of the guide 52 is a catch 65which is adapted to enter into a hole 56 in the torpedo tube 4! and toengage the spring 48 when the same is urged into retracted position andto so hold the same. This catch has issuing from it a rearwardlyextending lever 61 which is disposed between the flanges 5d and 55 ofthe guide 52. The lever 61 has a cam surface 68 adapted to be engaged bythe nut EM. When the said nut engages the cam surface 68, catch 65 isdisengaged from the spring 48 and the said spring strikes the torpedo 5|and ejects the same from the torpedo tube ll. The lever 61 has a fingerpiece 69 formed at the rearward end thereof which projects through aslot 12 formed in the web 53 of the guide 52 and the bottom IQ of theshell l2. By means of this finger piece the catch 65 may be manuallyoperated to permit of inserting the torpedo into the tube t! andretracting spring 48.

The operation of the invention is as follows: The submarine when placedin water, floats due to the float i 5. By reason of the fact that thereare openings in the shell so that water enters the compartment i3 andthe submarine is caused to float at the desired elevation. Due to thefact that the submarine is constructed with the upper portion thereof asa float and the lower portion constructed out of metal, the center ofgravity of the submarine is relatively low and lateral stability of thesubmarine is brought about. To procure stability in a longitudinaldirection the weight 39 is adjusted lengthwise within the groove 38until the desired results are procured. Prior to use the portions 31 ofthe fins 35 and 36 are bent downwardly a sufficient amount to cause thesubmarine to submerge when the propeller is driven. When the submarineis to be used, the elastic band 45 is twisted by applying the crank tothe propeller 42. This causes the nut 64 to travel toward the rear ofthe sub-marine. The torpedo 5| is next inserted into the torpedo tube 41and pressed against the spring 18 by means of a pencil or some othersuitable instrument. As the said spring compresses, the catch 65 engagesthe con volutions thereof and holds the spring in retracted position.After the propeller shaft has been wound up a sufficient number of timesthe crank is removed and the submarine, while the propeller is beingheld, is lowered into the water. When the propeller is released the samecommences to rotate and causes the submarine to travel forwardly. Due tothe action of the portions 3? of the fins 35 and 36 the submarinesubmerges. As the propeller continues to operate the submarine advancesbeneath the surface of the water and the nut 64 which is threaded on thethreaded spindle 6i advances along the guide 52. When the nut 64 engagesthe cam surface 68 lever 81 is depressed and the catch 65 disengagedfrom engagement with the spring as. This ejects the torpedo 5| from thetube 47 and the torpedo is directed into the water. After the energy,imparted to the torpedo, is spent the torpedo floats up to the surfaceof the water. The submarine then continues to travel under the wateruntil the energy of the elastic member 45 is spent or until the nut 64engages the end wall 51 and terminates the movement. The submarine thenfloats up to the surface of the water.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. An extremely simple andpractical construction is provided which simulates in appearance andmaneuvers that of an actual submarine. The

device is extremely stable transversely and stability longitudinally mayalso be procured by the adjustment of the adjustable weight provided. Bybending the fins of the submarine, submerging is procured when thesubmarine reaches a predetermined speed. With my invention the torpedois ejected after a predetermined length of time, subsequent tosubmerging of the submarine, so that the torpedo becomes visible beforethe submarine emerges. After the energy of the elastic member is spentthe submarine comes to the surface where-the same may be retrieved. Byconstructing the submarine in two parts accessibility is had to theinterior and to the operating mechanism within the same. By attachingthe elastic member at one end to the propeller shaft and at its otherend to the float the said elastic member may be easily assembled beforethe parts of the submarine are secured together. My invention isextremely attractive in appearance and is fascinating in itsperformance.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein disclosed, maybe made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from thespirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent is:

1. A toy submarine comprising a hull, the upper portion of which isformed with a float constructed of wood and the lower portion of whichis constructed with a sheet metal shell having spaced sides adapted toengage the float, propelling mechanism for the submarine disposed withinsaid shell and beneath said float, and submerging fins bent outwardlyfrom the sides of the shell at the upper edges thereof, portions of saidfins being free from the sides of the shell to permit of bending of thesame.

2. A toy submarine comprising a hull, a propeller carried thereby, arotary member for operating said propeller, a torpedo expelling deviceincluding a spring for expelling the torpedo, a catch for holding saidspring compressed, a screw driven by said rotary member, a nut engagedby said screw, and means operated by said nut for disengaging said catchfrom said spring.

3. A toy submarine comprising a hull, the upper portion of which isformed with a float constructed of wood and the lower portion of whichis constructed with a sheet metal shell having spaced sides adapted toengage the float, and a bottom connected therewith, a channel-shapedguide disposed within said shell and mounted on said bottom, a torpedotube at the forward end of said guide, a spring within said torpedotube, a catch pivoted between the flanges of said guide and engagingsaid spring for holding the same in retracted position, a screwextending along said guide, a nut threaded on said screw and movablealong said guide, means operated by said nut for releasing said catch,and means for rotating said screw.

4. A toy submarine comprising a hull constructed with an upper part anda lower part detachably connected together, the upper part beingremovable from the lower part by movement in an upward and forwarddirection, a propeller shaft rotatably mounted in the lower part anddisposed at the rear end of the hull, a. fastening secured at the otherend of the upper part and an elastic band extending between saidpropeller shaft and fastening, and serving to both propel the propellerand hold the parts assembled.

5.- A toy submarine comprising a hull, the upper portion of which isformed with afloat constructed of wood and the lower portion of which isconstructed with a sheet metal shell having spaced sides adapted toengage the float and 1ying in continuation of the outer surface' of thefloat, submergingfins formed from the upper edges of the sheet metalshell, said fins being bent outwardly from said shell substantially atright angles to the surfaces of said shell and float, and propellingmechanism for the submarine disposed within said shell and beneath saidfloat.

6. A toy submarine comprising a hull, a channel shaped guide disposedwithin said hull, a torpedo tube at the forward end of said guide, aspring within said torpedo tube, a catch pivoted between the flanges ofsaid guide and engaging said spring for holding the same in retractedposition, and means extending along said guide for releasing said catch.

7. A toy submarine comprising a hull, spaced supporting members carriedby said hull, a propeller shaft journaled in one of said supportingmembers, a screw journaled in both of said supporting members anddisposed in proximity to said propeller shaft, gearing between saidpropeller shaft and screw for rotating said screw, resilient means forturning said propeller shaft and extending parallel with said screw, atorpedo expelling device, and means operated by said screw for actuatingsaid torpedo expelling device.

ERLING WALLACE EKLOF.

